Alana O’Herlihy has never been one to stay in the lines. For her latest feature in SHADOWPLAY, shot inside NOVA Studios, she turned the lens inward, staging a series of self-portraits that blur the space between character study and personal mythmaking.

The project, Letterbox 4, unfolds across four cinematic alter egos:

• The Filth — Alana as Divine in Pink Flamingos

• The Breakdown — Alana as Myrtle Gordon from Opening Night

• The Maniac — Alana as Jack in The Shining

• The Illusion — Alana as Norma Desmond from Sunset Boulevard

Each portrait pulls from a different corner of film history, reinterpreted through Alana’s gaze. The result is a body of work that feels both archival and contemporary, honoring cult classics while breaking them open for a new generation of viewers.

 

Behind the Scenes at NOVA Studios

The shoot brought together a dream team of collaborators across fashion, beauty, production, and design, each layering in detail to help Alana fully embody her chosen characters.

Photography: Alana O’Herlihy @aohstudios
Fashion: Natalie Tauger @natalietauger
Production: Dylan Brackpool and Adaline Gruszynski 
Hair: Serena Radaelli @serenaradaelli
Makeup: Lilly Keys @lilly_keys
Nails: Natalie Minerva @natalieminervanails
SFX: Lily Beren @lilyjustinee
Set Design: Andrew Caso
Set Assist: Devin Defilia @devindif
DP: Amalia Irons @amaliairons
Camera Assist: Priscilla Mars
Photo Assistant: Liam O’Herlihy @liamoherlihy
BTS: Tatum Sanchez @motherdaughtertatum
Styling Assistants: Michael Hicks @m1chaelhicks and Raea Palmieri

 

A Study in Transformation

At its core, Letterbox 4 is about metamorphosis. Alana doesn’t just pose as Divine, Myrtle, Jack, or Norma, she channels them. Each frame feels alive with tension, glamour, and madness, proof of her ability to collapse distance between subject and storyteller.

Shot against the backdrop of NOVA Studios, the feature embodies what we love most about creative work: collaboration, experimentation, and a fearless approach to storytelling.